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Manufacturing Quarterly
Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization
QUARTERLY SURVEY OF PLANT CAPACITY UTILIZATION (QPC)
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization (QPC) is to provide quarterly statistics on the rates of capacity utilization for the U.S. manufacturing sector. This quarterly survey replaces the annual PCU beginning in 2007.
COVERAGE
Manufacturing establishments with 5 or more paid employees.
CONTENT
The QPC survey presents statistics on establishment operational status, value of actual production, estimated production attainable at full conditions, and reasons for operating at less than full production capacity. The survey also collects data on work patterns by shift. These data include days per week in operation, plant hours per week in operation, and weeks in operation in the quarter.
FREQUENCY
The QPC began as a pilot in 2007 and has continued on since that time.
METHODS
The Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization includes approximately 17,000 manufacturing and publishing establishments selected from the Economic Census. Establishments are selected with probabilities proportionate to their value of shipments within each industry. Reported data are for activities taking place during the fourth quarter of the survey year.
PRODUCTS
Two publications result from the survey, an Advance and Final report. The Advance report is a preliminary report that displays capacity utilization rates, both full and emergency, at the U.S. and 3-digit NAICS subsector levels. The Final report is more detailed and displays capacity utilization rates, both full and emergency, at the U.S., 3, 4, 5 and 6-digit NAICS industry levels. The Advance report is produced based on approximately 75% response and the Final is based on approximately 83%. The Final publication is produced approximately 12 months from the end of the reference year.
A report is released approximately 80 days from completion of the quarter and displays capacity rates at 95 industry levels defined by the FRB. The rates are based on approximately 65% response.
USES
The Federal Reserve Board benchmark monthly estimates of capacity output and utilization. In addition, analyze change in use of capital, capital stocks and inputs related to capacity growth.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The survey is the only source of quarterly statistics on U.S. industrial capacity.
RELATED PROGRAMS
Annual
Capital Expenditures Survey
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You are here: Economic Programs Overview
Manufacturing
Quarterly Survey of Plant Capacity Utilization
Last revised: December 15, 2008
